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Christmas Vacation on Long Island: 30 Staycation Ideas for Things To Do with Kids
With Christmas vacation on the horizon for Long Island kids, you may be staring down an entire week-plus of unstructured time. For most Long Island students, Christmas break runs from Monday, December 25, 2023, until Tuesday, January 2, 2024.
To help fill the void, we've rounded up 30 holiday break activities for Long Island families. From lingering must-do holiday events to visiting nearby attractions or planning a bigger escape, we've got you covered.
You can find even more Long Island happenings in our event calendar and holiday guide.
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Christmas Vacation Ideas for Long Island Families
1. Tour the Neighborhood Lights
Throw the kids in the car, pack some snacks, and hit the road to visit some of these spectacular home holiday light displays before they go dark.
2. Bayville Winter Wonderland
Walk in Bayville Winter Wonderland to meet Santa, ride the holiday train, enjoy some arts and crafts, and check out the arctic skating rink. There is also a Christmas tree forest, ax throwing (dads will dig this!), and rock climbing. Most attractions are outdoors.
3. Magic of Lights
Gawk at the Magic of Lights drive-thru spectacular at Jones Beach.
4. Girl Scout Suffolk County Light Show
See the dazzling lights, amazing vignettes, and holiday scenes at throughout the light trail put on by the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County. This year's event is held at Southhaven County Park.
RELATED: Must-Do Holiday Events and Christmas Light Drive-Thrus on Long Island
Take a special photo with Santa at Waterdrinker Farm's Winter Wonderland. Photo courtesy of the farm
5. Visit With Santa
Schedule a time to get your last-minute gift requests in and snap a picture with Santa before he flies off for final Christmas preparations.
6. Visit The Christmas House
Immerse yourself in the Christmas season at The Christmas House, an interactive walk-through experience where guests explore a Christmas-themed wonderland.
7. Long Island Aquarium
Ring in the new year with Long Island Aquarium's Fishes & Wishes party, where adults and kids enjoy a DJ, buffet dinner, and unique animal encounters.
8. Swing on the Playground
Explore one of the many destination-worthy playgrounds on Long Island.
9. Milleridge Inn
Peruse the holiday village and shops, then have dinner at Milleridge Inn.
10. LuminoCity
Eisenhower Park is illuminated with fantastical light displays during LuminoCity, a special light display running through Sunday, January 7, 2024.
11. Catch a Movie
Movie theaters have lots of family-friendly films that hit the big screen this season. Kids and adults will love "Wonka," based on the beloved Roald Dahl character.
12. Explore A Nature Center
Get up close with nature at one of these local nature centers.
13. Root for the Islanders
Check out the UBS Arena and cheer on the Islanders at one of their scheduled home games over the break.
14. See a Live Show on Long Island
"Frosty" and "The Happy Elf" are all being performed on Long Island stages.
15. Cradle of Aviation Museum
Check out the Cradle of Aviation Museum, which reopened its Junior Jet Club play area.
16. Go Bowling
If you're looking for a little indoor fun for the family, hit the lanes...the bowling lanes, that is, at these alleys in Nassau and Suffolk counties.
17. Sip Hot Cocoa
Brrrr, baby, it's cold outside. Warm up with some of the best hot cocoa spots on Long Island.
18. Go Ice Skating
Grab your skates and hit the ice at these wonderful outdoor rinks.
19. Hit Up the Arcade
Rack up the tickets and beat some high scores at one of Long Island's arcades.
20. Play Indoors
Let the kids blow off some energy at an indoor trampoline park or play space.
21. Go to the Gold Coast
Explore the North Shore from Port Washington to Port Jefferson.
22. Walk the Beach
Go for a stunning winter beach walk along our picturesque shorelines.
RELATED: Toys for Tots Donation Spots on Long Island and More Places to Donate Toys
Nothing beats a trip to Manhattan to see the famous Rockefeller Center tree. Photo courtesy of Tishman Speyer
Things to Do Over Christmas Vacation Near Long Island
23. Catch a Broadway Show
There are many kid-friendly shows on Broadway, including the new staging of "Back to the Future."
24. See the Rockefeller Center Tree
Day trip into NYC to check out the Rockefeller Center tree or visit the Winter Village at Bryant Park.
25. Go Skiing
Head off to a nearby family-friendly ski mountain to beat the cabin fever.
26. Getaway for the Weekend
Book a weekend getaway to one of our favorite nearby winter destinations.
27. Go Snow Tubing
Bundle up and take a day trip to a nearby snow tubing spot.
28. Swim at an Indoor Water Park
Pretend it's summer and splash away at these indoor water parks.
29. Visit Mystic
Spend a day on the other side of the Long Island Sound exploring Mystic, Connecticut.
30. Or Use the Time to Check off Some Bucket List Items!
Attempt a few of our top 100 things to do on Long Island with kids.
This article was originally posted in 2017 and was updated in December 2023
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